RYAN'S POV Staring at her retreating back, I sighed. Fuck, why did I say that? Why did I make a promise I know I won't be able to keep?. Walking back to my sit, I sat down and opened the drawer on my right, bringing out the document in its. On the top of the opened file was Smith, written boldly. I ran a hand down my face, my jaw tightening as I stared at the file. Smith. The name alone was enough to send a wave of frustration through me. I flipped through the pages, my eyes scanning the information I already knew too well. Layla thought she could just walk away...but she had no idea what she was up against. Her name wasnât on this file, but it might as well have been. Because whether she realized it or not, she was already caught in the middle of something far bigger than just being my maid. And no matter what I had promised her, I knew one thing for sure. I couldn't let her go. Picking up my phone, I dialled a number and called. "Hello sir?" The voice on the o
The next day Waking up to the sound of my alarm, I stood up hurriedly to prepare breakfast for Ava like I did every other mornings. Bathing and getting her ready for school was already so easy for me. As we ate breakfast, I explained to Ava that I won't be the one to pick her up for the next three days, and she shouldn't worry. "Why? Where are you going?" She asked in her sweet, childish voice. "I'm just going to be away for work, baby. I'll be back before you know it" I reassured her. "Can't Ava come with you?" She asked childishly. "No Ava, but I promise to take you with me next time" I promised, smiling softly at her. "Okay" she pouted. "Don't pout, a beautiful lady is going to take care of you while I'm gone, so make sure you behave, okay?" I asked. "Okay" she answered with a smile this time. Smiling back, I stared at her. I wasn't ready to part from her, even if it'll only be three days. We haven't been apart from each other before, except when I go to work.
Feeling drowsy, I decided to rest a little. The soft hum of the jet, paired with the gentle vibration beneath my seat, made it hard to keep my eyes open. I glanced at Mr. Damon and Daniel. Ryan was focused on the tablet in his hands, his expression sharp and unreadable, as always. Daniel sat near the back, still and silent, almost like a shadow. Relieved that neither of them was paying me any attention, I let my body sink deeper into the seat. Just a short nap, I told myself. My eyes fluttered shut, and slowly, the noise around me faded into a quiet blur. For a moment, I forgot where I was. Forgot the weight of everything. "Layla...Layla!!" The voice echoed, distant but unmistakable. I turned around, and there she was...my mom. She stood a few feet away, dressed in the same soft sweater she used to wear when I was a child. Her arms were open, her face calm, gentle...the way I remembered. "Mom?" I whispered, my voice trembling as I took a hesitant step forward. But
The car rolled to a slow stop in front of a grand hotel, the kind Iâd only ever seen in magazines or on TV. âParadise Hotelâ was written in bold, elegant letters across the top of the entrance, and the entire front of the building gleamed under the afternoon sun. A doorman stepped forward instantly, opening the car door. I stepped out slowly, glancing up at the tall, luxurious building. It was beautiful, but it felt out of place in my world. Like I didnât belong here. Without a word, I followed Mr. Damon as he walked toward the massive glass doors. His stride was confident, like this place was just another one of his many assets. Daniel trailed quietly behind him, calm and composed as ever. No one looked at me twice, but I felt every step. Like I was walking into a place that wouldn't remember me even after I left. Inside, the hotel was even more impressive...marble floors, towering chandeliers, and the soft sound of music playing somewhere in the background. A middle ag
I froze, my hand hovering over a dress as the words sank in. âWeâre going to a masquerade ball?â I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. The shock in my tone was unmistakable. Ryan turned slightly, glancing at me with a sharp look. âYesâ he replied, his voice calm, as though this were the most normal thing in the world. âYouâll need a proper dress for it.â I blinked, still trying to process what he had just said. âBut⌠I didnât know about thisâ I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. âWhy would you take me to a ball? I donât even⌠fit in there.â Ryanâs gaze softened just a fraction, but his expression remained as unreadable as ever. âYouâll fit in perfectly" he said, the slight edge to his voice almost making it sound like a command. I stared at him, unsure of how to respond. âBut I...â I started, but he cut me off. âChoose something. The ball is tonight. We donât have time to waste.â The pressure was building, and I felt my chest tighten. He didnât give m
RYAN'S POV Hearing the clinking sound of heels, I raised my head and my breath immediately got caught in my throat. Layla has always been a very beautiful lady, but at this moment...she looks mesmerising, stunning... alluring even. I couldn't take my eyes off her. God, I don't think I'll be able to control myself from touching her. I want her badly, my body needs her, I could already feel myself getting hard as I stared at her. Swallowing hard, I forced myself to calm down as different images of her naked underneath me surfaced in my head. Clenching my fist, I pushed the thoughts aside. "You look stunning" I complemented her. "Thank you" she replied, her cheeks turning pink underneath her natural makeup, making her look even more beautiful. Gulping, I turned around before saying, "Let's go" in a cold tone, masking my lewd thoughts. Getting into the car, I handed her a black masquerade mask with feather on the side, looking elegant and classy. I was dressed in a blac
LAYLA'S POV Staring at Ryan's back as he talked to some men... probably his business partners, I was lost in thought but also aware of the curious gaze on me. Swirling the drink in my hand, I noticed Ryan glancing back every second to make sure I was still in place. I couldnât help but wonder what exactly he was thinking. Was he worried about me? Was he just trying to keep up appearances? There was so much I didnât understand about him, about this whole situation. I took another sip of my drink, trying to blend into the background as best as I could, but it was hard when all the attention seemed to be directed at me. The soft murmur of the room faded into the background as I focused on the swirl of my drink, the ice gently clinking against the glass. A few moments later, I noticed a few more people glancing my way, some of them clearly trying to figure out who I was. It wasnât just the men, but even some of the women. They all seemed to be sizing me up. My discomfort grew wi
Layla's pov"What's your name?" A man who looked like he was in his mid 40s asked, dressed in a butler's uniform, face expressionless and stoic making me rethink my decision to work in this house. But thinking about my little sister, I had no choice but to be strong."My name is Layla Williams sir" I replied, bowing my head respectfully.With my head down, my face twitched non stop, sweat trickling down my back, but I made sure to keep my body composed. I couldn't afford to miss this job, I had to pay for my little sister's school fees and also, our house rent is due."It shows in your resume that you've worked as a maid before, a nanny to be precise, right Ms Williams?""Yes sir" I said, raising my head slowly."Okay, you're hired. You'll be in charge of serving Mr Damon, you'll be his personal maid, you can start tomorrow." The butler said, stretching out a piece of paper with things I should know about Mr Damon. Huh???My mind went blank, 'Mr Damon? No no, I can't be his personal
LAYLA'S POV Staring at Ryan's back as he talked to some men... probably his business partners, I was lost in thought but also aware of the curious gaze on me. Swirling the drink in my hand, I noticed Ryan glancing back every second to make sure I was still in place. I couldnât help but wonder what exactly he was thinking. Was he worried about me? Was he just trying to keep up appearances? There was so much I didnât understand about him, about this whole situation. I took another sip of my drink, trying to blend into the background as best as I could, but it was hard when all the attention seemed to be directed at me. The soft murmur of the room faded into the background as I focused on the swirl of my drink, the ice gently clinking against the glass. A few moments later, I noticed a few more people glancing my way, some of them clearly trying to figure out who I was. It wasnât just the men, but even some of the women. They all seemed to be sizing me up. My discomfort grew wi
RYAN'S POV Hearing the clinking sound of heels, I raised my head and my breath immediately got caught in my throat. Layla has always been a very beautiful lady, but at this moment...she looks mesmerising, stunning... alluring even. I couldn't take my eyes off her. God, I don't think I'll be able to control myself from touching her. I want her badly, my body needs her, I could already feel myself getting hard as I stared at her. Swallowing hard, I forced myself to calm down as different images of her naked underneath me surfaced in my head. Clenching my fist, I pushed the thoughts aside. "You look stunning" I complemented her. "Thank you" she replied, her cheeks turning pink underneath her natural makeup, making her look even more beautiful. Gulping, I turned around before saying, "Let's go" in a cold tone, masking my lewd thoughts. Getting into the car, I handed her a black masquerade mask with feather on the side, looking elegant and classy. I was dressed in a blac
I froze, my hand hovering over a dress as the words sank in. âWeâre going to a masquerade ball?â I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. The shock in my tone was unmistakable. Ryan turned slightly, glancing at me with a sharp look. âYesâ he replied, his voice calm, as though this were the most normal thing in the world. âYouâll need a proper dress for it.â I blinked, still trying to process what he had just said. âBut⌠I didnât know about thisâ I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. âWhy would you take me to a ball? I donât even⌠fit in there.â Ryanâs gaze softened just a fraction, but his expression remained as unreadable as ever. âYouâll fit in perfectly" he said, the slight edge to his voice almost making it sound like a command. I stared at him, unsure of how to respond. âBut I...â I started, but he cut me off. âChoose something. The ball is tonight. We donât have time to waste.â The pressure was building, and I felt my chest tighten. He didnât give m
The car rolled to a slow stop in front of a grand hotel, the kind Iâd only ever seen in magazines or on TV. âParadise Hotelâ was written in bold, elegant letters across the top of the entrance, and the entire front of the building gleamed under the afternoon sun. A doorman stepped forward instantly, opening the car door. I stepped out slowly, glancing up at the tall, luxurious building. It was beautiful, but it felt out of place in my world. Like I didnât belong here. Without a word, I followed Mr. Damon as he walked toward the massive glass doors. His stride was confident, like this place was just another one of his many assets. Daniel trailed quietly behind him, calm and composed as ever. No one looked at me twice, but I felt every step. Like I was walking into a place that wouldn't remember me even after I left. Inside, the hotel was even more impressive...marble floors, towering chandeliers, and the soft sound of music playing somewhere in the background. A middle ag
Feeling drowsy, I decided to rest a little. The soft hum of the jet, paired with the gentle vibration beneath my seat, made it hard to keep my eyes open. I glanced at Mr. Damon and Daniel. Ryan was focused on the tablet in his hands, his expression sharp and unreadable, as always. Daniel sat near the back, still and silent, almost like a shadow. Relieved that neither of them was paying me any attention, I let my body sink deeper into the seat. Just a short nap, I told myself. My eyes fluttered shut, and slowly, the noise around me faded into a quiet blur. For a moment, I forgot where I was. Forgot the weight of everything. "Layla...Layla!!" The voice echoed, distant but unmistakable. I turned around, and there she was...my mom. She stood a few feet away, dressed in the same soft sweater she used to wear when I was a child. Her arms were open, her face calm, gentle...the way I remembered. "Mom?" I whispered, my voice trembling as I took a hesitant step forward. But
The next day Waking up to the sound of my alarm, I stood up hurriedly to prepare breakfast for Ava like I did every other mornings. Bathing and getting her ready for school was already so easy for me. As we ate breakfast, I explained to Ava that I won't be the one to pick her up for the next three days, and she shouldn't worry. "Why? Where are you going?" She asked in her sweet, childish voice. "I'm just going to be away for work, baby. I'll be back before you know it" I reassured her. "Can't Ava come with you?" She asked childishly. "No Ava, but I promise to take you with me next time" I promised, smiling softly at her. "Okay" she pouted. "Don't pout, a beautiful lady is going to take care of you while I'm gone, so make sure you behave, okay?" I asked. "Okay" she answered with a smile this time. Smiling back, I stared at her. I wasn't ready to part from her, even if it'll only be three days. We haven't been apart from each other before, except when I go to work.
RYAN'S POV Staring at her retreating back, I sighed. Fuck, why did I say that? Why did I make a promise I know I won't be able to keep?. Walking back to my sit, I sat down and opened the drawer on my right, bringing out the document in its. On the top of the opened file was Smith, written boldly. I ran a hand down my face, my jaw tightening as I stared at the file. Smith. The name alone was enough to send a wave of frustration through me. I flipped through the pages, my eyes scanning the information I already knew too well. Layla thought she could just walk away...but she had no idea what she was up against. Her name wasnât on this file, but it might as well have been. Because whether she realized it or not, she was already caught in the middle of something far bigger than just being my maid. And no matter what I had promised her, I knew one thing for sure. I couldn't let her go. Picking up my phone, I dialled a number and called. "Hello sir?" The voice on the o
"I know you're engaged to Miss Olivia" I said again, making sure my voice was loud and firm. Ryan let out a slow, measured breath, his eyes never leaving mine. A flicker of frustration crossed his face, but there was something else there too...something deeper, something I couldnât quite read. "So thatâs what this is about" he muttered, raking a hand through his hair. His expression was unreadable now, his usual mask slipping back into place. "You think that changes anything?" I blinked, taken aback by how casually he dismissed it. "Of course it does!" I snapped. "Youâre engaged, Mr Damon. To someone else. You canât just..." I gestured between us, feeling my face heat. "This...whatever this is...shouldnât even be happening!" Ryan sighed, shaking his head. "You donât understand." "Then make me understand," I challenged, crossing my arms over my chest. "It's just business, it doesn't matter and you shouldn't think about it" he said, his expression unreadable. "I don't care, I'm j
Two months later It's been two months since I started avoiding Mr Damon, making sure I wasn't in his presence for more than five minutes. I stuck to my plan religiously...keeping my distance, limiting our interactions, and making sure I was never alone with him for too long. At first, I thought heâd push back, try to corner me again like he always did. But to my surprise, he didnât. He let me have my space. Or at least, thatâs what I wanted to believe. Because even if he wasnât physically closing the distance between us anymore, I could feel his eyes on me whenever we were in the same room. He never stopped watching me. Never stopped making me aware of his presence. And the worst part? It was working. Because no matter how much I tried to ignore him, my body still reacted whenever he was near. My pulse would quicken, my skin would tingle, and my mind would betray me with thoughts I had no business thinking. I hated it. And yet, a small part of me...one I refused to acknowled